Valelawa Primary School urgently requested Minister of Education Mahendra Reddy to consider giving them a grant to build two classrooms.
The school, situated in Dreketi outside Labasa Town, was built in 1961.
The manager of the school Dhirendra Prasad approached Mr Reddy after the prizegiving at Ahmadiyya Muslim Secondary School last Friday.
Mr Reddy immediately travelled to visit the school and held a meeting with eight teachers and the management.
He saw that the wooden floors of some classrooms was rotten, the roof was rusted and classrooms were very small in size.
Mr Reddy promised the management and teachers that his ministry would look into their request and try to sort out what is the best way they can assist the school.
Valelawa Primary School headteacher Jagendra Prasad told Mr Reddy said they needed a grant of $120,000 to construct the classrooms.
“In these classrooms we want to have a separate library, computer room and staff room,” Mr Prasad said.
He said they needed to two build the two new classrooms to cope with the increase in their student number.
“This year we had 132 students coming from eight surrounding areas, Natecaca, Naua, Waimasi, Volca, Batiri settlement, Valelawa Stage One, Valelawa Stage Two and Navakaciga.
“Students who used to stay at Maramaru Hostel now travel in Rural Service Licence (RSL) vehicles to come to school and return.
“Most of the students’ parents are livestock farmers.
“Before we used to have composite classes but then we changed to mainstream classes. Thank you to Ministry of Education for sending more teachers to assist our students.”
“Now that parents are supporting their children to get education, we want to provide the best learning improved environment for them,” Mr Prasad said.